Buoyant support for christmas tree and the like

ABSTRACT

A buoyant Christmas tree support includes a styrofoam sheet having a central opening therethrough. A Christmas tree stand is supported by the sheet over the opening, and a rope is affixed to the tree or the stand and extends through the opening and is tied to an anchor. A skirt surrounds the stand and a current source, which supplies current to decorative lighting on the tree.

United States Patent [191 Dolan, Jr.

[451 Apr. 9, 1974 BUOYANT SUPPORT FOR CHRISTMAS TREE AND THE LIKE [76] Inventor: James D. Dolan, Jr., 1322 Crystal Lake Dr., Orlando, Fla. 32806 [22] Filed: Feb. 8, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 330,507

[52] US. Cl. 9/8 R, 9/8.3 E, 248/44 [51] Int. Cl B631) 21/00 [58] Field of Search 9/8 R, 8.3 E, 8.3 R;

240/10 C, 10 Q, 10 T; 248/44; 116/107 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS lnman 9/8 R Mansell.... 114/206 R Block 240/10 T X Edwards et al 9/8.3 E

3,614,528 10/1971 Craddock 240/10 Q 3,698,025 10/1972 Worobel 9/8.3 E

2,821,353 H1958 Hasenohrl 248/44 2/1965 Keats 9/8 R Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler Assistant Examiner-Gregory W. OConnor Attorney, Agent, or FirmDuckworth, Hobby & Allen [5 7] ABSTRACT A buoyant Christmas tree support includes a styrofoam sheet having a central opening therethrough. A Christmas tree stand is supported by the sheet over the opening, and a rope is affixed to the tree or the stand and extends through the opening and is tied to an anchor. A skin surrounds the stand and a current source, which supplies current to decorative lighting on the tree.

7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures BUOYANT SUPPORT FOR CHRISTMAS TREE AND THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to buoyant supports, and in particular, relates to buoyant supports for Christmas trees and similar ornamental objects.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the past lighted objects have been floated on lakes, swimming pools and other calm bodies of water to achieve a pleasing esthetic effect during periods of darkness. In some instances these objects were merely candles mounted on blocks of wood.

Similar techniques have been used for more utilitarian purposes. Peck, in U. S. Pat. No. 2,9l7,755, teaches a floating kerosene lantern arrangement employing a sea anchor for stabilization.

A wide variety of Christmas tree supports are disclosed by the prior art, and engulf a varied range of ornamental and utilitarian designs. Examples of just a few of such arrangements are taught by Wagner in U. S. Pat. No. 2,613,899 and by Chernansky in U. S. Pat. No. 3,109,596. Other Christmas tree supports are also taught in U. S. Pat. Nos. 3,038,688 and 3,307,208.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a buoyant ornamental support having a buoyant member with a central opening extending therethrough to an outer exposed surface. Supporting means are disposed on the surface and are adapted to receive an ornamental object. A length of a flexible material extends through the opening and is adapted to be coupled at one end to the object supporting means combination. Anchoring means are fixed on the other end of the length of flexible material.

While the present invention is not limited to such, the buoyant support contemplated herein is particularly suited as a buoyant support for Christmas trees or similar ornamental objects. To this end the support preferably comprises a stand having an opening which is axial with the opening in the buoyant member, and into which the Christmas tree is mounted. The support further comprises a skirt surrounding the trunk portion of the tree and the stand, and houses a current source (such as a battery) which supplies current to decorative lighting on the Christmas tree.

THE DRAWING FIG. I is a side view, partially in cross section, of a buoyant support in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the buoyant support shown in FIG. 1, as employed in combination with a Christmas tree.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A buoyant Christmas tree support in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 1.

The support, referred to generally as 10, comprises a buoyant member 12 having a centrally disposed opening 14 therethrough extending to an exposed outer surface 16. The size, shape and material of the buoyant member 12 is not critical. Preferably, the buoyant member 12 is formed from styrofoam sheeting or a similar light weight material.

A Christmas tree stand 18 is disposed on the exposed outer surface 16. The stand 18 comprises a frame 20 having an opening 22 therethrough which is adapted to receive the trunk portion 24 of the Christmas tree.

The stand 18 further includes a plurality of rigid, outwardly extending legs 26 joined to the frame 20. The outer surface 16 of the buoyant member 12 may include positioning means, such as marks or indentations (not shown), each corresponding to and adapted to indicate the proper position of the extremity of one of the legs 26. Preferably, the legs26 are dimensioned such that the opening 22 in the frame 20 is axial with the opening 14 in the buoyant member 12. The support further comprises anchoring means which, in this embodiment,,comprises a length of a flexible material, such as rope 30, one end of which is fastened to the trunk portion 24 of the Christmas tree. Alternatively, the rope 30 may be fastened to the Christmas tree stand 18. A weight is affixed to the other end of the rope 30. While various types of weighted objects may be used, it is preferred to employ a light weight hollow container such as a plastic bottle 32, which is adapted to receive a heavier-than-water substance 34, such as sand or small stones, for example.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the Christmas tree further includes a decorative portion 36 on which a decorative lighting 38 is placed. The support 10 further comprises a frustrum-shaped skirt 35 on the surface 16, the skirt having an opening with the trunk portion 24 of the Christmas tree extending therethrough. A current source 40, such as a battery, is positioned between the skirt 35 and the surface 16 and adjacent the stand 18. A circuit line 42 is provided for conducting current between the sourse 40 and the lighting 38. A thin line 44 is joined to'an edge of the surface 16, enabling the entire support 10 to be held in position, or to be pulled across the water. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the buoyant support 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2 provides new and facile means for supporting ornamental objects on a body of water, and simultaneously provides anchoring and shelter for current source for decorative lighting associated therewith.

Further, and most importantly, each of the component portions of the buoyant support 10 are relatively light. This allows the support 10 to be packaged and shipped for little expense, thereby lowering the overall cost and meeting a greater demand.

A variety of alterations may be made in the abovedescribed buoyant support without departing from the scope of the present invention, which is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A buoyant ornamental support, comprising:

a buoyant member having a centrally disposed opening extending therethrough to an outer exposed surface;

supporting means on said surface;

a tree-shaped ornamental object having a trunk portion and an ornamental portion, with said trunk portion extending into said supporting means;

a frustrum-shaped skirt on said surface and having an opening, with said trunk extending through said opening of said skirt;

a length of flexible material extending through said opening and coupled at one end to said object; and

anchoring means fixed at the other end of said length of flexible material. 2. A buoyant ornamental support as recited in claim 1 wherein said supporting means comprises:

a frame having an opening therethrough adapted to receive said object; and a plurality of rigid, outwardly extending legs joined to said frame. 3. A buoyant ornamental support as recited in claim 2 wherein said member further comprises positioning means on said surface, each positioning means corresponding to the extremity of one of said legs.

4. A buoyant ornamental support as recited in claim 1 wherein said anchoring means comprises a hollow container adapted to receive a substance which is tmas tree. 

1. A buoyant ornamental support, comprising: a buoyant member having a centrally disposed opening extending therethrough to an outer exposed surface; supporting means on said surface; a tree-shaped ornamental object having a trunk portion and an ornamental portion, with said trunk portion extending into said supporting means; a frustrum-shaped skirt on said surface and having an opening, with said trunk extending through said opening of said skirt; a length of flexible material extending through said opening and coupled at one end to said object; and anchoring means fixed at the other end of said length of flexible material.
 2. A buoyant ornamental support as recited in claim 1 wherein said supporting means comprises: a frame having an opening therethrough adapted to receive said object; and a plurality of rigid, outwardly extending legs joined to said frame.
 3. A buoyant ornamental support as recited in claim 2 wherein said member further comprises positioning means on said surface, each positioning means corresponding to the extremity of one of said legs.
 4. A buoyant ornamental support as recited in claim 1 wherein said anchoring Means comprises a hollow container adapted to receive a substance which is heavier than water.
 5. A buoyant ornamental support as recited in claim 1 further comprising: decorative lighting on said ornamental portion of said tree-shaped ornamental object; a current source positioned between said skirt and said surface and adjacent said supporting means; and a circuit line for conducting the current from said source to said lighting.
 6. A buoyant ornamental support as recited in claim 1 further comprising means for holding said support in position and for pulling said buoyant member across water.
 7. A buoyant ornamental support as recited in claim 1, wherein said tree-shaped object comprises a Christmas tree. 